Key takeaways:
The Government of Canada has invested in an innovative project with Enova Power Corp. and GridS2, which could allow industrial and commercial electricity customers who have dispatchable or controllable loads to help reduce demand on constrained feeders, reducing the need for distribution system upgrades.
The project is being tested on Enova’s distribution system but has the potential to be scaled to other communities across Ontario.
Enova Power Corp. (Enova) has launched a transformative pilot project with the support of the Government of Canada that will allow qualified customers to take a more active role in helping to balance local electricity demand and generation.
Enova has partnered with Ontario-based cleantech startup GridS2 to build and test a scalable local energy market using GridS2’s innovative AI-driven transactional energy platform, which could allow industrial and commercial customers with controllable loads and distributed energy resources to use their assets to participate directly in Ontario’s electricity market by working with Enova to balance local demand and generation.
The project is one of five clean energy projects to receive a portion of the $13 million in federal funding announced in August by the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources through Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) Energy Innovation Program – Smart Grid Demonstration. It directly supports NRCan’s strategic priorities to decarbonize energy systems, defer costly infrastructure upgrades, and enhance grid resilience.
“We are excited to be collaborating with GridS2 and partnering with Natural Resources Canada on this initiative,” said Greig Cameron, President and CEO of Enova. “This project will enhance Enova’s ability to plan and optimize the distribution system through AI-based tools. It will also lay the foundation for local energy procurement and unlock the potential of distributed energy resources for our customers – supporting Enova in creating the electricity system of the future.”
Building a scalable model
Enova is testing the program on its own distribution system in areas where there are system constraints, and success could lead to the expansion of the technology to other electric utilities in Ontario.
“The goal is to build a scalable model that will defer traditional grid infrastructure investments by avoiding generation, transmission or distribution costs, leading to cost savings for ratepayers and reducing environmental impact,” said Jeff Quint, Manager of Innovation and Energy Management at Enova. “Starting with our system will allow us to get it right before we start looking for market participants in the coming months.”
“At its core, this initiative is about more than just technology – it’s about engaging customers and building a resilient, community-centered energy future and it is another example of how Enova is a leader in the energy sector,” added Cameron.
About Enova Power Corp.
Enova Power Corp. is the trusted energy provider, dedicated to delivering safe and reliable energy solutions that power our communities forward. Serving more than 164,000 residential and business customers in the City of Kitchener, City of Waterloo, Township of Woolwich, Township of Wilmot, and Township of Wellesley, Enova Power Corp. will drive what’s next in energy and sustainability for our communities and beyond.
About GridS2
GridS2 is an Ontario-based cleantech company helping electrical distribution utilities reduce costs and improve grid reliability by simplifying local energy procurement. GridS2 provides technology and advisory solutions that enable utilities to design, implement, and operate electricity markets at the distribution level.
By unlocking the value of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), facilitating Non-Wire Solutions (NWS), and enabling Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), GridS2 empowers utilities to better manage the evolving grid and support the energy transition in a cost-effective and scalable way.
For more information, visit www.grids2.com
From left to right: Jeff Quint, Manager of Innovation and Energy Management at Enova Power Corp., The Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Canada, Greig Cameron, President and CEO, Enova Power Corp., Nimish Bhatnagar, CEO, GridS2 and Bala Venkatesh, Chief Technology Officer GridS2.
